"Bringing the Museum to You"

By permission of the artist, The Cyber Art Show is pleased to feature the first of two 12-piece Exhibitions of works by American contemporary Impressionist painter Jo Ridge Kelley (born 1957 in High Point, North Carolina).

 

For Kelley, art is a means to express and share with viewers her innermost joy and gratitude for the myriad of forms and moods of the natural world, and also those emanating from the ever-restless topography of the human imagination.
 

She was raised in the Quaker tradition, living in the old home place of her grandparents which she shared with her parents and four siblings. Grabbing a sketchbook and sitting in a meadow or beside a creek, drawing trees, rocks and wildflowers, provided a respite from her daily chores. Art-making offered Kelley an exciting creative outlet and brought her welcome praise from family, teachers and friends.
 

She continued this artistic journey studying drawing and painting at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte and graduated with a Bachelor of Creative Arts. After college, she taught art at the high-school level for several years and continues today to conduct annual private workshops.

 

After marrying photographer Ed Kelley, the two artists made their home in Waynesville, North Carolina and opened their own studio/gallery, Ridge Runner Naturals, showcasing their wildlife screen prints, original paintings and fine art photography. They also shared their gallery space with their daughter, a talented jewelry designer.

Kelley's career reached a turning point in 2008 after spending a week-long mentorship in Canada with the En Plein Air Masters, working along side Kevin Macpherson, Kenn Backhaus and John Cosby, among others. This invaluable experience working with these contemporary Masters, has had a significant impact on Kelley's work. 

Jo's painitngs are held in many private and corporate collections throughout the country and across the globe. Her work was featured in American Art Collector magazine, Artist Focus page , December 2009 and a featured upcoming-show article, May 2010. “The Laurel of Asheville” magazine featured her work in an article and on the cover in October 2009. She has been featured in numerous regional publications noting her generous donations of original paintings for important fundraisers, demonstrations and lectures for art leagues and special-interest groups. A percentage of her art sales is given back to her community, helping to provide funds for many needs, including preserving farmland and our state and national parks.